Carer needs on an organic inpatient unit
Quality in Ageing and Older Adults
ISSN: 1471-7794
Article publication date: 17 December 2019
Issue publication date: 17 April 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to further understand the needs of carers when a relative with dementia is admitted to an organic impatient ward.
Design/methodology/approach
A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed to generate a substantive theory to understand the needs of carers and how staff perceive carer needs when a relative is admitted to a dementia ward. Five relatives and six members of staff were interviewed using purposive and theoretical sampling. Interview transcripts were analysed using initial, focused and theoretical coding using constant comparative methods to develop the end theory.
Findings
The grounded theory concluded that carers have three categories of needs: “The Safe and Cared for Relative”, “The Informed Carer and “The Understanding, Responsive and Available Service”. Underpinning the needs are the relationships between carers, their relative and staff. Three barriers were identified which can impact on these needs being effectively met. These identified barriers were: Loss, Time and Ineffective Communication.
Originality/value
The grounded theory demonstrates that carers needs fundamentally relate to their relatives being safe and cared for and being included and informed during the admission. Relationships can be ruptured when a barrier prevents the needs from being effectively met. Recommendations are made to aim to reduce the impact of the barriers and to aid staff in developing their understanding of the carer experience.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Dr Graeme Flaherty-Jones for his guidance and support through the research process. Most importantly, we would like to thank the participants of the study. A special thank you to the carers for their open and honest accounts during a difficult time, in the hope of being able to jointly develop something of value to support other carers in the same situation. This piece of research was completed in fulfilment of the award of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Teesside University and no external funding was received for the study.
Citation
Clegg, J. and Craven-Staines, S. (2020), "Carer needs on an organic inpatient unit", Quality in Ageing and Older Adults, Vol. 21 No. 1, pp. 53-64. https://doi.org/10.1108/QAOA-08-2019-0048
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited